Belbin/Agosto Free Dance

I just got an email from the BelbinAgosto group, with a link to a Blades on Ice online blurb that announces B/A's Free Dance music:

Coach Igor Shpilband has revealed that Tanith Belbin and her partner, Ben Agosto, will be presenting a Russian Gypsy Dance for their free this season, which will be seen at Skate America in Pittsburgh, October 21-24. "I wanted them to do something different."

I liked their Sarajevo number, and I am SO glad they aren't doing fluff this year. Russian music for Moscow. I wonder how many other skaters will try the same ploy.

I totally agree! Belbin/Agosto will be skating in Moscow, and what better music than Russian music to charm and impress the Russian audience? I hope they interpret the music well, and I believe they will be successful in doing so. Please don't tell me, however, that they are skating to "Kalinka". UGH

Belbin/Agosto are outside chances to medal at next year's Worlds, and perhaps their selection of Russian music will propel them to a World medal.

Choosing music appropriate and/or familiar to the home audience is nothing new, of course, Remember that Annet Poetzsch skated to "Funny Girl" at the 1980 Winter Olympics, held in Lake Placid, and Katarina Witt skated to "West Side Story" at the 1987 Worlds, which were held in Cincinnati, Ohio.